Political Quotes

“let me from the outset associate myself with my colleague's comments in opposition to this sense of Congress resolution. This sense of Congress resolution produces a cruel hoax on African American farmers in this country. Those of us who have labored very diligently trying to get relief, to no avail under the last two Congresses, really got to the point of having to go to court rather than an administrative remedy. But as I look at House Concurrent Resolution 296, it provides no relief, no direction, nothing other than some comfort or cover for Members of Congress when they have not done the representative acts that they should in their respective districts. The 2501 program, which was a program specifically designed for outreach for African American farmers, languishes in the administration's budget and it is constantly opposed by members of the other side on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations. I challenge the supporters of this amendment to provide the necessary monies so that outreach and other things can be complemented rather than curtailed. If we look at the Department of Agriculture and its historic discrimination against African American farmers, this sense of Congress resolution addresses none of those past discriminations. The last plantation is still the last plantation.”